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Author
Topic: Insomnia and Atripla (Read 7668 times)

I have been on Atripla since Oct 2008. For the last year (give or take) I have been suffering from what I would describe as insomnia. I seem to fall asleep fine but my quality of sleep isn't that great. I almost feel like I'm semi-conscious through the night. Sometimes I toss and turn. I often wake up with sore muscles like I was tense through my sleep. I sometimes have the vivid dreams. I've been taking melatonin every night but it really doesn't seem to help. I've wondered about other sleep aids but wanted to post here first. I've tried Valerian root but I didn't seem to notice it helping my quality of sleep any. Others here have suggested taking Atripla in the morning. Any suggestions?

I suffered for years with sleep issues due to Atripla , so I have had to change my regimen to Intelence / Truvada . I made the change about 3 weeks ago and have slept through the night ever since . I would not recommend taking Atripla in the daytime but I do know of some that do .

I was surprised at how much better I feel now since I made a change , I knew I was being effected by Atripla but didn't realize to what extent until I was off the drug for 24 hours .

That's something to think about. I know there's a new one on the market too. I remember asking about it and being briefed. It's a "sister" to Atripla but was supposed to cause less vivid dreams etc. I forget what it was called...

That's something to think about. I know there's a new one on the market too. I remember asking about it and being briefed. It's a "sister" to Atripla but was supposed to cause less vivid dreams etc. I forget what it was called...

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I know I started this long ago. I talked to the nurse yesterday about this again. She said when I come back to see the doctor in April I should suggest a scrip for Ambien to go with the Atripla. I'm curious how this will help. I'm also suffering from bruxism at night...grinding/clenching my teeth. I wonder if any of that is related to this.

1) why become attached to a habit-forming medication to Ambien instead of switching to an HIV regimen that doesn't cause insomnia?

2) I've had bruxism for almost two decades. If it is serious consult your dentist and have a mouth guard made (they are not cheap) to wear at night when you sleep. In general this is stress/anxiety related. But if it started after taking Atripla then that is another reason to change medication and see if it lessens/eliminates the issue before going the mouth guard route.

3) If you switch regimens and all of these issues persist then it's most likely anxiety-based and you should consult with a mental health specialist. Many HIV patients have these issues even if they are not on Atripla/Sustiva, in fact many HIV-negative people have them (insomnia and bruxism).

UGH! This is so frustrating. I saw the doctor yesterday. I told her about the sleep issues again and told her that I had interest in switching my medications. I suggested the combo above Prezista, Norvir and Truvada and she didn't have anything negative to say about it except that it was a heavier pill burden or some term that she used...which does no matter to me. She then suggested Stribild which I'm always open to listening. So i did. She seemed pretty convincing that this pill would help my sleep issue and some of the other side effects that I was feeling. I then come home and begin to research on my own and find that many people seem to have sleep problems with it as well and terrible gas??!!? I'm a server. I don't need to be popping off gas while I'm at a table. Now the prescription has been written and the paperwork to change my meds and I'm not feeling confident about the decision made. What should I do?

You're the patient, you have a right to chose the Prezista regimen -- assert yourself with your doctor. You can say you're more comfortable with a medication that has been FDA approved for 8 years than one that just came out, and the "pill burden" does not concern you.

totally with ms p on this. you are the patient, don't ever forget that. doctor mumbles out some long latin word as justification to not change meds, ask them to spell it, google it, understand it so that you can properly weigh the cost/benefit analysis of your decision.

lol, the gas. ok. lets talk farts. my limited experience with it so far (on truvada for 3 weeks, was on atripla for over a year)

i only get gas about an hour after i dose, not all day. i dose in the evening, with dinner. i usually only fart one goooooood time. it smells a little unnatural. if i know its coming, i walk out on the backporch. then i'm back to normal

What about sleep? I called and told them I wanted Prezista, Novir and Truvada instead and I get a call back from the doctor late Wed night (I'm guessing from her personal phone??) suggesting WebMD and the National blah blah blah to research so I did and I still feel like I'd rather take the cocktail. One thing that has never been addressed since I've been on Atripla is the pale stool that I have. It's this way most of the time and alot of times diarrhea as well. At the first clinic I went to they used to tell me it was because I was drinking tap water and should switch to distilled.

What about sleep? I called and told them I wanted Prezista, Novir and Truvada instead and I get a call back from the doctor late Wed night (I'm guessing from her personal phone??) suggesting WebMD and the National blah blah blah to research so I did and I still feel like I'd rather take the cocktail.

I don't understand when you write something like this -- are you implying that you've been insistent about being on Prezista and your doctor can give you no good verbal reason why not to be on this regimen and instead sends you to the internet?

If he/she sent you to the NIH site then that should be validation, as Prezista/Norvir/Truvada is clearly listed as one of four recommended first-line regimens, though so is Stribild. At any rate, as long as it's on this list it's clearly the patient's choice -- it's not like your making things up and selecting something weird.

I'm not anti anything I just came home and did my research between stribild and the cocktail I mentioned above and I think I'd prefer the cocktail. I just got a call from the pharmacy a minute ago that it should be here Tuesday. Is there anything I should know about the transition? My doctor didn't really say anything to me about it and I didn't think to ask. Do I just take my Atripla as normal the night prior and begin my new regimen the following night after its delivery? Hopefully it doesn't make me too icky at first as I have to work Wednesday haha

Do I just take my Atripla as normal the night prior and begin my new regimen the following night after its delivery?

Yes, that's all you have to do. A seamless switch from one to the other.

The biggest difference when it comes to taking your new combo is that UNLIKE Atripla, you need to take Prezista/Norvir/Truvada with some food. It doesn't have to be a huge meal, a small snack will do. You just need something to get your digestive juices flowing so the meds start getting broken down and into your system.

I'm on the same combo and I take it with lunch or my evening meal, which ever one happens to fall somewhere between 3pm-7pm. (sometimes I eat lunch late, sometimes early, sometimes not at all, but I always have something around 7ish.)

I like this combo and haven't had any major side-effect issues with it. Good luck!

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Thank you for the feedback I'm excited to make the change. As of late I haven't been feeling too hot at all. Just icky. Sore muscles all the time for no reason, never wake up feeling rested. I really feel like the Atripla has taken its wear and tear on my body since I started taking it in 09 but I guess in changing my regimen I will be able to see if it was that or if something else is going on. I have always felt that I have not been taken care of properly since my diagnosis in 08 but I guess that's what happens when you don't have health insurance and have to rely on non-profit type places. Hopefully when open enrollment happens again I'll be able to get insurance and better care

Just want to offer you a word of encouragement. Atripla was doing similar things to me and I made the switch to atripla. The first few weeks I had the gassy issue and I am glad to say that it faded away. Otherwise, the sleep has been so much better and I feel 100 times better. (vivid dreams is an understatement, I felt like the day never ended, like I was always awake). Good luck!